Himachal floods: 10-month-old orphaned girl declared 'child of state', government to bear expenses
PTC News Desk: A 10-month old girl Neetika, orphaned in floods in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district triggered by cloudburst, has been declared 'child of the state' with the government pledging to support her education and upbringing.
Neetika has been declared a "child of the state" under the Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana of the Himachal Pradesh government, a senior official said.
The dreadful incident unfolded on the intervening night of June 30 and July 1 when a cloudburst struck Talwara village. Her father, Ramesh, 31 died, while her mother Radha Devi, 24, and grandmother Purnu Devi, 59, are still missing.
Ramesh had stepped out to divert the flow of water entering the house, while his wife and mother followed to help. They did not return.
Under the Sukh-Ashray scheme, the orphaned children are entitled to inter or intra-state annual exposure visits, stipend to meet personal expenses while pursuing higher education, vocational training or skill development, funds for startup and grants for building a house.
Several benefits are provided to orphans (children of the state) under the Sukh-Ashray scheme launched in 2023, which includes providing food, shelter, clothing, higher education, and skill development to unmarried orphans between 18 and 27 years of age who have no place to live and are unemployed.
At present, the child is living with her aunt, deceased Ramesh's younger sister in Shikauri village, about 20 km away from Talwara village.
- With inputs from agencies
